Improvement in piano-forte bridges



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itiuitml www wwwa-W- Wax CHARLES H. DE VINE, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO DE VINE BROTHERS.

Letters Patent No. 82,928, dated October 13, v1868.

IIWPRQVEIVLENT IN PIANO-FORTEA BRIDGES.

TheScledule referred to these Letters Patent and-making part of the same.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. DEVDTE, of Buffalo, in the county of Erie, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful -Improvements in Piano-Forte Bridges; and I do hereby declare that the following. is a full and exact description thereof, reference vbeing had to the. accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is avertical cross-section of my combinationbridge attached to the pin-block, 85e., of a piano-forte.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a section or portion of my bridge,l detached om a piano-forte.

t Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts .in both igures.-

My invention relates to that portion of a piano, known as the bridge, over which the wires pass, and consists in the special construction embodying a series of veneers ,of wood, frtted to the tuning-pill block in such a manner as to form the exaet'curve made by the hammer when striking the wires, and surmonnted by a thin piece ofivory, bone, or hard rubber, on which the strings rest, the advantages of which will be hereinafter described.

In the drawings, A represents my combinationbridge, which is composed of a suitable number of strips of wood, ct a a., sawed with the grain, with the exception of strip b, that receives the bridge-pins c c c c, which is made thicker, and is sawed crosswise with the grain of the wood.

These veneers are all glued together, then put into a heated caul and bent into a curve, (shown at d,) to correspond with a segment of a circle described by the hammer of the piano'when'about to strike the strings or wires.

I extend my bridge from the highest note in the instrument down as many notes or octaves as may be desirable, and vertically from above the top of the iron frame or plate B to the bottom of the piano.

This gives that strength and solidity which is of the utmost importance for the upper notes, as the strain on these strings is very great, and the blow of the hammer very violent.

This bridge is firmly screwed and glued to therestpin or tuning-pin block c, and pin-blocking D, which are respectively attached to the back, E, of the instrument, as shown in fig. l.

By my method of placing these veneers endwise, with the grain of the wood running downward from the strings, (with the exception of the second, b,) and resting on the bottom of the piano,- I claim that the wood is less liable to give or depress, and therefore, of necessity, a great aid in keeping the strings in tune, which is of course very desirable.

On the entire top of this bridge is glued a thin plate of ivory, F (if preferred or desired, bone or hard rubber may be nsed,) and through which the usual ,bridge or cut-off pins, c c c, are inserted. This ivory plate not only serves to aid in holding the bridge-pins more firmly in the wood, and allows the strings in tuning to slip more readily, but it adds greatly to the beauty and brilliancy of the tne of the piano, giving to the strings passing over it a clear-ness of vibration, and producing a bell-like tone when these strings are struck by the hammer; In producing this combined brilliancy and beauty of tone, it is due not only to this vivory top, but also to the construction of the bridge with veneers, overlaid as described.

I also avoid the almost intolerable nuisance, which every piano-tuner will appreciate, of passing the wires or strings of thepiano through the brass eyelets, or so-called agraii`es, 'which in a short time so a'ect said wires at the bearing-point that it becomes almost impossible to tune the piano,'in consequence of their sticking in the eyelet-holes.

I am aware that a brass or metal plate has been used on the top of the ordinary bridge, but while it gives a certain degree of strength tothe bridge, it greatly impairs the tone of the strings, impartingto them a metalic and `wiry sound which it is my object to avoid.

It is well known that the use of iron bridges, cast with and forming part of the iron frame used in pianos,

for 'the purpose of adding strength to the case, has

proved so detrimental to the tone that the European makers have never adopted them, and all good makers in America have almost entirely discarded them.

To recapitulate the advantages of my improvements: The combincd-veneered bridge gives solidity and strength to animportant part of the instrument, and the ivory plate gives an improved tone, does away with the disadvantages of the agraiief facili tates tuning, and makes -a firm socket for the bridgepins; the important advantages gained b eing strength and an improved tone for the upper strings. Therefore,

What I claim as my invention, and desire'to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The curved bridge A, composed of veneers a a aI and b, having the ivory or equivalent top plate F, attached as herein described.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. CHAS. H. DE VINE. Witnesses:

J. R.' BRAKE, ALBERT HAIGHT. 

